Chelsea agree £32m fee with Atletico Madrid for Diego Costa

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He is very much a confusing player. That's the reason why so many have a problem rating him. He's clumsy when he has the ball, isn't much of a team player/passer, is fast, but doesn't look particularly quick, his finishing is good but nothing special and he's big and aggressive but not super strong ala drog, bony etc. But he gets it done. How? He's always running into the right spaces. He's one of the best off the ball movers on a football pitch atm. The gap between the CB and the fullback in transition seems to be his favorite and he exposes it time and time again without fail. How he gets it done might not look natural, but the fact is he's recorded amazing numbers at all levels for this past season. Been a factor in most of the big games he's played and seems to be a fighter on the pitch. He'll play with even more talented attackers who'll probably create more for him.

When he moves to chelsea I think he'll be great for them. Although I don't see why they'd sign him with lukaku developing so steadily. However I am somewhat disappointed Atl Madrid didn't smuggle in lukaku on the deal. He'd absolutely tear la liga defences apart.
 
RooneyLegend said:
He is very much a confusing player. That's the reason why so many have a problem rating him. He's clumsy when he has the ball, isn't much of a team player/passer, is fast, but doesn't look particularly quick, his finishing is good but nothing special and he's big and aggressive but not super strong ala drog, bony etc. But he gets it done. How? He's always running into the right spaces. He's one of the best off the ball movers on a football pitch atm. The gap between the CB and the fullback in transition seems to be his favorite and he exposes it time and time again without fail. How he gets it done might not look natural, but the fact is he's recorded amazing numbers at all levels for this past season. Been a factor in most of the big games he's played and seems to be a fighter on the pitch. He'll play with even more talented attackers who'll probably create more for him.

When he moves to chelsea I think he'll be great for them. Although I don't see why they'd sign him with lukaku developing so steadily. However I am somewhat disappointed Atl Madrid didn't smuggle in lukaku on the deal. He'd absolutely tear la liga defences apart.
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Although not identical to Drogba as you mentioned, he's clearly signed to fill the big Drogba-shaped hole in Chelsea's attack. A big striker who's a shrewd goalscorer, a fighter and who brings others into play both by holding the ball up and making the right runs. Lukaku, for all his talent, doesn't seem to be the cynical and experienced bastard Mourinho wants in attack.

I don't blame Mourinho, seeing the success he had with Milito. Neither the fastest, strongest or most technical, but got the job done by being smart and hard working. Even Derlei, who seemed to be much appreciated by Mourinho.
 
RooneyLegend said:
He is very much a confusing player. That's the reason why so many have a problem rating him. He's clumsy when he has the ball, isn't much of a team player/passer, is fast, but doesn't look particularly quick, his finishing is good but nothing special and he's big and aggressive but not super strong ala drog, bony etc. But he gets it done. How? He's always running into the right spaces. He's one of the best off the ball movers on a football pitch atm. The gap between the CB and the fullback in transition seems to be his favorite and he exposes it time and time again without fail. How he gets it done might not look natural, but the fact is he's recorded amazing numbers at all levels for this past season. Been a factor in most of the big games he's played and seems to be a fighter on the pitch. He'll play with even more talented attackers who'll probably create more for him.

When he moves to chelsea I think he'll be great for them. Although I don't see why they'd sign him with lukaku developing so steadily. However I am somewhat disappointed Atl Madrid didn't smuggle in lukaku on the deal. He'd absolutely tear la liga defences apart.
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I disagree with you on a lot of that to be honest. He's not easy on the eye with his style, but he produces some real moments of quality on the ball. His dribbling causes all sorts of problems and his directness really catches defenders out. I saw him pull out a cracking first touch against Barca that took him between two defenders - most other strikers would have just stoppes and shielded the ball or passed it.

What you've deacribed is a bigger version of Hernandez, which is doing Costa a huge disservice.
 
pocco said:
I disagree with you on a lot of that to be honest. He's not easy on the eye with his style, but he produces some real moments of quality on the ball. His dribbling causes all sorts of problems and his directness really catches defenders out. I saw him pull out a cracking first touch against Barca that took him between two defenders - most other strikers would have just stoppes and shielded the ball or passed it.

What you've deacribed is a bigger version of Hernandez, which is doing Costa a huge disservice.
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Don't think I even touched on his level of technical skill on my post so don't know what you're on about. He's got a great touch and dribbling best described as forceful. All my post was supposed to indicate was that he isn't graceful/classical in his style which is true. Don't think I've seen a center forward who plays like him and doubt many have. That leads to people not rating him much which IMO is wrong considering he gets it done.
 
pocco said:
'He's clumsy when he has the ball' sort of implies that he's not that great technically. Perhaps you don't know what you're on about either.
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Reminds me a bit of Suárez, only not as gifted. Both players have a weird way of dribbling that looks clumsy, but is still very effective - they don't keep the ball that close to them like most top players but still have it under control.
 
How did he do last season or was he too much in Falcao's shadow?
 
Played a different role but he was very good in the second half of the season and especially in Copa del Rey games.
 
Tarrou said:
Have you been in a coma or something? He was class.
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Eh? Think you misunderstood; how did he do in the 2012/2013 season, not the one just concluded.

Bob Loblaw said:
Played a different role but he was very good in the second half of the season and especially in Copa del Rey games.
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Thanks mate. So its not just a one-off season then.
 
He was better and more important to Atletico in the 2nd half of 12/13. Been better in general since then till now. Wonder how Falcao will look when he plays again after such a long lay off.
 
Nedved said:
Although not identical to Drogba as you mentioned, he's clearly signed to fill the big Drogba-shaped hole in Chelsea's attack. A big striker who's a shrewd goalscorer, a fighter and who brings others into play both by holding the ball up and making the right runs. Lukaku, for all his talent, doesn't seem to be the cynical and experienced bastard Mourinho wants in attack.

I don't blame Mourinho, seeing the success he had with Milito. Neither the fastest, strongest or most technical, but got the job done by being smart and hard working. Even Derlei, who seemed to be much appreciated by Mourinho.
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Good point about Milito as well.
 
SoCross said:
Eh? Think you misunderstood; how did he do in the 2012/2013 season, not the one just concluded.
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Yeah, he was still excellent. Brenton tried to buy him for £20 million last summer off the back of it, iirc.
 
Cheers lads. Will be interesting to see him play in the league, he'll probably adapt well. Can't see Lukaku staying now either
 
why the feck hasn't this been completed yet? fecking woodward.
 
Makes Chelsea favorites for next season. It's embarrassing how far behind them we are.
 
Mister_Stubbs said:
Makes Chelsea favorites for next season. It's embarrassing how far behind them we are.
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Don't think so yet.

If they also sign Koké/Cesc/Pogba and Filipe Luis though...
 
32 million is a good price really considering the numbers that have been quoted for Cavani, I'd definitely have Chelsea as favourites if they get Filipe Luis and another centre mid.
 
GK: Cech or even better, Courtois, competing at DDG's level.

Defence:
They have a solid backline though they need depth now with Luiz and Cole gone.

CM: They have Matic who is a terrifying CM, and if van Ginkel comes back a very complete duo, Ramires is good backup and they have Mikel too, but those 4 seem a little light on defensive qualities that Mourinho likes and which Luiz provided.

AM: Hazard is the best in the league at his position IMO, Willian is good and Oscar has great potential. Schurrle is OK as backup.

ST: Costa is good, and Ba/Torres are OK backup. If they convince LUkaku to stay as second fiddle, they really have something going.


All in all, it's more than enough to challenge for the title despite lacking depth (mostly in defence.) They also have a host of very good reserve players AFAIK, but who knnows if Mourinho will trust them...of course, they do have Mourinho too.
 
J-Stander said:
32 million is a good price really considering the numbers that have been quoted for Cavani, I'd definitely have Chelsea as favourites if they get Filipe Luis and another centre mid.
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Smart and effective signings by Mourinho.
 
BBC reporting medical is done too.
 
Not jealous Chelsea are bagging their first big signing while we've got nowhere yet. He's shit anyway
 
Hmmm. The missing piece of the puzzle for Chelsea?

I really hope we have some deals lined up soon...
 
Costa: "I've always dreamed of living in London playing for Chelsea, even when I dreamed of playing for Real, Barca, Bayern, Manchester United, Hamilton Academicals etc etc. I expect to thrive under this week's Chelsea manager."
 
If you watch the highlights for a lot of his goals, many come from a through ball from midfield. Something Fabregas and Koké are both excellent at.

They'll have an insane XI as well as crazy depth all over the pitch if they sign these players they're heavily linked with. Mourinho has absolutely no excuse if he doesn't win something this coming season.
 
When did the medical happen? Just now while he is away with Spain? He has mostly been injured since April, so did it happen even before April?
 
Great signing and will improve them a lot. They'd have won the league last year with Costa, imo.
 
Tarrou said:
Great signing and will improve them a lot. They'd have won the league last year with Costa, imo.
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costa is a great signing. Not as good as the coffee though!:lol:

I saw him holding his own against terry. Thats always a worry, when you can match terry for strength.

32 seems a bit cheap. I would speculate that if we went for him, we would have had to pay 40ish million.
 
united_99 said:
When did the medical happen? Just now while he is away with Spain? He has mostly been injured since April, so did it happen even before April?
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Medicals don't necessarily have to be completed at a clubs HQ.

There are pics of him training with Spain today so I guess he's fit.
 
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